Stainless Steel Pipe

A pipe is a tube or hollow cylinder used to convey materials or as a structural component. A pipe is generally specified by the internal diameter (ID) (i.e. 3" Sch 40 pipe is actually 3" ID, the wall thickness will determine the O.D.); whereas a tube is usually defined by the outside diameter (OD) but may be specified by any combination of dimensions (OD, ID, wall thickness or schedule). Pipe also comes in the welded or seamless state depending on the application it is needed for.

A tube is often made to custom sizes and may often have more specific sizes and tolerances than pipe. Also, the term tubing can be applied to non-cylindrical shapes (i.e. square tubing). The term tube is more widely used in the United States, whereas pipe is more common elsewhere in the world.

Wall thicknesses on pipe can vary by size and application. For example, wall thicknesses are determined by the terminology "Schedule." The standard schedules are 5S, 10S, 10, 20, 30, Std & 40S, 40, 60, HX & 80S, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, and XXH. Each of these designations represent a different wall thickness. CONFUSING? Let the professionals at Action Stainless walk your various requirements to insure that you are getting what is indeed needed for your job.